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Minnesota trio faces meth charges in Polk County

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Three people have been charged in connection with a methamphetamine lab bust in the city of Trail, Minn.

Leslie Gene Stine, 34, Trail, Minn.; Erick Roy Fjerstad, 35, Fosston, Minn.; and Jessica Marie Campbell, 30, Bagley, Minn., made initial appearances in Polk County District Court in Crookston Monday on charges of first-degree conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of substances with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, according to criminal complaints filed in the Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District Court.

The three were arrested late last week by the Pine-to-Prairie Drug Task Force, along with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, after the law enforcement agencies searched the property and discovered two meth labs, located in Stine’s residence and shop in Trail. A U.S. Border Patrol drug-sniffing dog also was used in the search.

The investigation dates back to August 2013. According charging documents, the suspects allegedly made several purchases of pseudoephedrine, including Sudafed, Claritin-D and other related products from pharmacies in several northwest Minnesota cities over that period of time.

Materials for meth manufacturing and use also were confiscated, along with documents that contained instructions for making meth, according to the charging documents.

The conspiracy to manufacture meth charges are subject to penalties of up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both, while the possession charges are subject to 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.

Fjerstad and Campbell were housed Tuesday afternoon in Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston, while Stine posted bail, according to a spokesperson at the jail.

Omnibus hearings for the three are scheduled June 9 in Polk County District Court, with a pretrial hearing scheduled June 30.

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